Google Bucket Test: Does it spell the end of Digg?

On July 14, 2008 Techcrunch reported that a “Digg-like Interface” was being tested by Google in an article called “Google Bucket Testing New Digg-like Search Interface.”  .  In the article it was said:

“Google has experimented with search features that let users vote on search results, and/or recommend other results than those given, since late 2007. They generally bucket test these features (meaning some small percentage of users, randomly chosen, see them), and if testing goes ok, they move them into the optional experimental area where any user can add them”.

The article refers to a November 28, 2007 article, entitled “Straight Out Of Left Field: Google Experimenting With Digg Style Voting On Search Results” by Duncan Riley which stated:

“This experiment lets you influence your search experience by adding, moving, and removing search results. When you search for the same keywords again, you’ll continue to see those changes. If you later want to revert your changes, you can undo any modifications you’ve made.”

On July 16, 2008 a follow-up article appeared on Techcrunch, it was called “Google Continues To Test A Search Interface That Looks More Like Digg Every Day”.  This article stated:

“A couple of days ago we posted screen shots of a new search interface being bucket tested by Google that lets users vote up or down on search results. The resulting interface was very Digg-like, and included a total vote count, etc.

Today Adrian Pike, the CTO of startup Tatango, noticed that the interface changed yet again and now includes user comments. Like Digg, each comment has an up or down vote feature as well, and Google is using thumbs up and down icons that are exactly the same as those on Digg. The comments show the username of the person leaving it, and clicking on it shows their Google account profile.”

Further investigation reveals that on the Google Experimental Labs page it says:

“This experiment lets you influence your search experience by adding, moving, and removing search results. When you search for the same keywords again, you’ll continue to see those changes. If you later want to revert your changes, you can undo any modifications you’ve made. Note that this is an experimental feature and may be available for only a few weeks.”

If you like the result, then just click on the arrow-up button and this “will move the result to the top of the page and add this orange next to it so you can easily recognize it. The result(s) you promote will appear at the top whenever you search for the same keyword(s) in the future.”  On the other hand, if you don’t like the result, clicking on the X button “will remove the result, and it will remain hidden when you search for the same keyword(s) in the future.”  It goes on to say “Your changes will be applied each time you search for the same keyword(s). There’s a link at the bottom of the search results that lets you view the results in their original ordering.”

Chris Lang, in his article entitled “Google Testing Digg Like Interface wwith Voting Features called Edit Search Results” stated:

“Just like our social bookmarking profiles we will have a Google profile, with your votes, comments and recommendations. Think site reviews and friends lists, but it will be your Google friends. You will be able to message them and get your own messages in Gmail.

You will be able to create your own bookmarks of sites you voted on and meet and build friends lists of Google users with like interests.”

Is this a “Digg-like” interface?  I suppose one could say that, but one could also say it’s a “Searchles-like” interface or maybe even a “Love it or Hate it-like” interface.  On the other hand one could simply say ‘It’s a “Google-like” interface, after all… how many ways different ways of doing things like this can there really be?’  Personally, to me, it doesn’t look any more like Digg’s interface than a dozen others I have seen over the years, but I won’t argue either way.

According to what I have read, it seems that this new Google Interface will only edit what you see, not what everyone sees.  What effects it has beneath the surface is unknown, perhaps in the long run if enough people “bury” the item, it will disappear from everyone’s search engines results. The point is that the way this is written up, a Google Bury Brigade will not affect what you or I see.  This would truly make Google a real “Social Bookmarking” site of the caliber which we do not see on the net today.

On Digg there is a posting entitled “Google Steal Interface From Digg For Testing” and another called “You Can Now Edit Google Search Results”.  The second article is a follow-up to the first.  I’ve notice that the First Article has 3 buries.  The first bury occurred at 26 Diggs and the reason given was “Inaccurate”.  The 2nd Bury was at 104 Diggs and it was for the reason of “General Bury”.  The 3rd Bury was at 154 Diggs and for the reason of “General Bury”. The second article was not buried once.

Even though I would not call what Google is doing as a “Steal from Digg”, anymore than I call what Digg does as a “steal from others”, I feel that if Google’s version can stop these nonsensical buries by people for invalid reasons… then Google has 100% of my support.  It didn’t take much of a look at the first article to see that the post was an accurate report, and as far as General Buries… those are reasons given by mindless button clickers who simply want to squelch things we all hold dear like “The Freedom of Speech” and “The Freedom of Expression”.  I’m not even going into the rights being trampled on which concerns “The Freedom of the Press”. Digg really needs to rid themselves of the Bury Button for this proves that their good intent is being abused by it’s members in the worst way… and Google would be wise to heed the lesson before they set up another way for those who wish to only have their views shown takes hold.

Will the new Google Interface signal the end of Digg?  Probably not, but it will signal the end of the importance of Digg, and unless Kevin Rose and Jay Adelson already struck a deal with Google… this could make their $200 Million site worth virtually nothing (so to speak).  With such a system in place, Digg could just be devalued in the Google Search Engine and all emphasis be placed on this new Google interface.